What has gone wrong for Alexis Sanchez at United?

Since joining Manchester United from Arsenal last season and becoming the highest paid player in the Premier League it is safe to say that the Chilean has not exceeded expectation at the club.

The winger appeared in 12 of the Red Devils’ Premier League matches, scoring two goals and making three assists overall – so what has gone wrong for the 29-year-old at Old Trafford?

Is Jose Mourinho not playing Alexis Sanchez in the right system?

When Sanchez was at Arsenal under former manager Arsene Wenger he played his best football. Free flowing where the Chilean did not have to track back and had the freedom of the pitch to do what he wanted.

However, Mourinho’s system is totally different from Wenger’s – more defensive, preferring his wingers to track back, something the 29-year-old has never had to learn in his game from Barcelona and Arsenal.

Is it because he is not the main man at United?

At Arsenal, Sanchez was the main man – every fan’s favourite player. However, going from the player that was the biggest player at the club and the player that everyone looked up too to change a game, to a player that is just another squad player at Old Trafford must have sent his confidence spiralling down to the ground.

This shows on the pitch. You don’t see him going for a 30-yard shot, dribbling past players for fun – he looks scared to have that freedom. Before his move to Manchester in the last January transfer window, the Chilean scored seven goals for Arsenal, making three assists – compared to his second half of the season in Manchester, where he scored two goals and made three assists.

Should Alexis Sanchez leave Manchester United?

Personally, I think Alexis Sanchez should leave Manchester United or the Red Devils should sell him. The Chilean was clearly a commercial signing for Ed Woodward and not a Jose Mourinho signing.

If he was for sale or left, he would still attract interest from some of the biggest European giants such as Paris-Saint Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich, who were both interested in the winger last-season. All three teams would offer his style of play – freedom.